The Minimal Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Minimal in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Minimal
The Insider’s Guide
Meditation-inspired writing and notes app for Apple devices
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Minimal’s own pages.
Made by Timeless LLC · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Minimal’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Minimal’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 12 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
Minimal is a notes and writing app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, built around a sparse page and Markdown-style formatting. Its signature feature, the Note Lifetime, archives notes that go unedited for a chosen period so the list reflects current work. Notes can be co-edited with other people or published as simple websites, and todo lists can sync with Apple's Calendar. It is a subscription with a 2-week free trial.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Minimal, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You can co-write a note or publish it as a public web page.
- 1
Best for a quiet page where old notes clear themselves out
Minimal is an Apple-only notes app that archives notes you haven't touched for a while, so your list shows only current ones.
- 2
Paid plans start at $4.17 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $4.99 per month, or $49.99 per year.
- 3
You can try it first
2-week free trial
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and macOS.
- 5
Note Lifetime
An optional setting archives notes left unedited for a chosen period. Reminders arrive before a note expires, pinning or editing keeps it alive, and expired notes can be restored.
- 6
Collaborative notes
A note can be shared as view-only or editable, by invitation or public link, and several people can edit at once. Collaborative notes sync with offline support.
- 7
Publish as Website
A note can be turned into a simple public web page in three taps, for example to publish an essay written in the app.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 12 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Minimal you could make: notes, Markdown and tasks. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Minimal at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $4.99 per month, or $49.99 per year
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 2-week free trial
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Timeless LLC
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for a quiet page where old notes clear themselves out
Minimal is an Apple-only notes app that archives notes you haven't touched for a while, so your list shows only current ones. You can co-write a note or publish it as a public web page. There's no free plan: after a 2-week trial it's $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, with no one-time purchase, the terms don't say what works without a subscription, and formatting is typed characters with no tags listed.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, which sits in the middle band for notes apps here, between the $2.99 cheaper quarter and the $8.25 dearer one. If you'll share it, the Family Plan is $79.99 a year for up to 6 people. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan, and the terms don't say what works without a membership. There's a 2-week trial, with nothing in the listing saying it wants a card, and after that it's the subscription, with no pay-once option. |
| Features | C | Note Lifetime archives notes you've left alone, with reminders first. Several people can edit one note, a note becomes a public web page in three taps, and todo lists sync into Apple's Calendar. It does the quiet-writing job fully, and that's a smaller job: formatting is typed characters, and the listing shows no tags. |
| Ease of use | B | There's very little on screen to learn, and nothing to set up beyond signing in. No App Store rating is on record to go by. The quirks are small ones, like typing a name between curly brackets to make a folder. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, synced through iCloud, with Apple Calendar, Shortcuts, Siri, iMessage and Spotlight hooked in. One family of devices, though: no Windows, Android or web app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Minimal is for
- Fits if your notes list keeps growing and you'd like old notes to archive themselves
- Works for families on Apple devices, with up to 6 people on the $79.99 a year plan
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or Android, as it's Apple devices only
- Not for you if you won't subscribe, because there's no free plan and no one-time purchase
- Pricey if you just want somewhere to jot things down, at $49.99 a year after the 2-week trial
- Watch out: notes published as websites are public by default and can show up in web search
- Watch out: the terms keep some features for members but don't list what works without paying
Good to know
Good for
- Writers who want a quiet, sparse page on Apple devices
- People who would rather old notes expire than pile up
- Co-writing a note or publishing one as a web page
Worth knowing
- It is available for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch only; there is no Windows, Android or web app.
- After the 2-week trial it is a subscription at $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year; no one-time purchase is offered.
- The terms say the best features are members-only but do not list what works without a subscription.
- Notes published as websites are public by default and can be searchable on the web.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.17
A month to start, paid by the year
Minimal is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $4.99 per month, or $49.99 per year.
No free plan, and the terms don't say what works without a membership.
Minimal Monthly
$4.99
per month
Membership for one person, billed monthly through the App Store after the 2-week free trial.
Minimal Annual
$49.99
per year
The same membership billed once a year after the 2-week free trial.
Minimal Family Plan
$79.99
per year
Shares Minimal with up to 6 family members through Apple's Family Sharing, after a 2-week free trial.
Team plans
Custom
For workplaces that want to share Minimal across a team; arranged by writing to the vendor.
Trying it first
2-week free trial
Read from minimal.app on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
About 16.5% off with annual billing
Minimal costs $49.99 a year against $4.99 a month, which comes to $59.88 over 12 months, a saving of about 16.5%.
Stated on minimal.appEducation
Up to 80% off for students and educators
The pricing section says students and educators can save up to 80% on an annual plan by getting in touch with the vendor.
Stated on minimal.appNonprofit
Up to 80% off for non-profit employees
The same discount of up to 80% on an annual plan is offered to non-profit employees who contact the vendor.
Stated on minimal.app
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Minimal Monthly”, against $4.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺49,99 | $1.02 | 80% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 199.00 | $3.17 | 37% less |
| Canada | $4.99 | $3.51 | 30% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 69ribu | $3.86 | 23% less |
| South Africa | R69.99 | $4.23 | 15% less |
| Mexico | $99.00 | $5.44 | 9% more |
| Germany | 4,99 € | $5.59 | 12% more |
| United Kingdom | £4.99 | $6.60 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Meditation-inspired writing and notes app for Apple devices. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, real-time collaboration, notes, Markdown, tasks.
Note Lifetime archives notes you've left alone, with reminders first.
- Note Lifetime
- An optional setting archives notes left unedited for a chosen period. Reminders arrive before a note expires, pinning or editing keeps it alive, and expired notes can be restored.
- Collaborative notes
- A note can be shared as view-only or editable, by invitation or public link, and several people can edit at once. Collaborative notes sync with offline support.
- Publish as Website
- A note can be turned into a simple public web page in three taps, for example to publish an essay written in the app.
- Todo lists and Calendar
- Todo items have checkable boxes, and a list can sync with Apple's Calendar app, where each item becomes an event with its own start time, end time and alerts.
- Markdown-style formatting
- Headers, lists, bold, italics, block quotes and pull quotes are typed with special characters. A folder is created by typing its name between curly brackets.
- Sync, import and export
- Notes sync through iCloud across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. They export as PDF, HTML and Markdown, and text and links come in through the system share sheet.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- iCloud
- Apple Calendar
- Apple Shortcuts
- Siri
- iMessage
- Spotlight
Minimal is made by Timeless LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
12/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Minimal's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 12 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 47 of 147) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Its paid plans start at $4.17 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 27 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 24 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Minimal’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 16 of 147
- CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 of 147
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 of 147
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 note-taking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Minimal is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Minimal you could make: notes, Markdown and tasks. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 126 of the 147 other note-taking apps grade higher. It costs $49.99 a year.
What you could make
- Notes, Markdown and tasks: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- It plugs into other products, iCloud, Apple Calendar and Apple Shortcuts among them.
- Hooks into the device itself: an Apple Watch app.
What this rests on. Minimal’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Bear, iA Writer, Simplenote, Craft and Apple Notes
The 5 tools Minimal is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Bear
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with tags and links.
- Bear has a free plan. Minimal does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Bear lists a browser extension.
- Minimal also covers tasks.
- 2.8GPA
iA Writer
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode.
- Only iA Writer lists a Windows app.
- iA Writer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Minimal also covers notes and tasks.
- 3.4GPA
Simplenote
Free
Free plain-text notes that sync across every major platform.
- Simplenote has a free plan. Minimal does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Simplenote lists a web app.
- Only Simplenote lists Android, Windows and Linux apps.
- 3.0GPA
Craft
Free plan · from $96/yr
Notes and documents app with tasks, daily notes and whiteboards.
- Craft has a free plan. Minimal does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Craft lists a web app.
- Only Craft lists Windows and Android apps.
- 3.4GPA
Apple Notes
Free
Apple's free notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web.
- Apple Notes has a free plan. Minimal does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Apple Notes lists a web app.
- Minimal also covers Markdown and tasks.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Minimal free?
No, Minimal is a paid product, but you can try it first. 2-week free trial.
How much does Minimal cost?
Minimal lists 4 plans. Minimal Monthly: $4.99 per month.
What platforms does Minimal work on?
Minimal is available on iOS and macOS.
Does Minimal offer any discounts?
Minimal publicly lists the following: About 16.5% off with annual billing; Up to 80% off for students and educators; Up to 80% off for non-profit employees.
Does Minimal have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Minimal is listed for iOS and macOS.
Does Minimal have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Minimal is listed for iOS and macOS.
Is Minimal open source?
Minimal is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Minimal work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Minimal integrate with?
Minimal's listing names iCloud, Apple Calendar, Apple Shortcuts, Siri, iMessage and Spotlight.
Does Minimal have a student discount?
Up to 80% off for students and educators. The pricing section says students and educators can save up to 80% on an annual plan by getting in touch with the vendor.
Who makes Minimal?
Minimal is made by Timeless LLC.
What are the alternatives to Minimal?
The closest alternatives to Minimal in our directory are Bear, iA Writer, Simplenote, Craft and Apple Notes.
How does Minimal compare with other note-taking apps?
Minimal's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 12 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 9.
Is Minimal good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Minimal C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $4.17 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 27 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Minimal?
The plain part of Minimal you could make: notes, Markdown and tasks. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Minimal’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Minimal's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-24.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Timeless LLC. Prices change, so check minimal.app before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Minimal, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/minimal
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Minimal: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/minimal
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/minimal/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Minimal, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 148 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Minimal’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Minimal is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Timeless LLC. Prices and plans change: check minimal.app before you buy.